New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-14
A HI.NDOO UUM1N'S FATE.
From The London Queen.

The sequel to a terrible story has reached England
during the past week 4 lindoo woman wei eau,
feelings Of lady of intellectual power and literary
ability enabling her to publish series OF letters on
letters trnchant that some of them have been
thought worthy OF being repeated In The lines Of
lOndon-was, in accordance with Hindo0 Usage, mar
red when a child 10 youth older than herself.
Arrived at womauhood, her husband claimed her as
his wife he being itcratc, ignorant, uncuitVated
man little better than cooc day laborcr. unable
to earn more than RS 10 iabout So per month and
refused TO ION the husband TO whom, i'll accordance
with Hiaaoo custom she had been narnsd when
thcreupon, brought an action IN the High Court at
bombay for the restitution, or rather the enforce
Mr. Justice Pnhcy. who was struck with the In
justice Of the claim that he dismissed the case with
out calling on tho counsel who appeared for Kukmib-
hal to reply, expressing his opinion very strongly 10
the effect that it would lie most cruel and revolving
Unfortunately for Rukmibbai, her husband wal not
satisfied with the decision and appealed against IT,
and MIR Justice Iayicy who, while sympathizng
most strongly with the wife. fc!t thaJ Mr.. Justice
tho case to The lower court for trial merits a.
judged by the Hmdoo laws In this court IL has been
counsel pleaded eloqucnty in her favor, said that she
had never consented, or been asked 10 consent
man az her husband; that he was poor, ignorant and
unhealthy, and that so strong was her rcpugnance
sort with HIM she would be compelled to dsohey
under whatever penalties might be inflicted on her
Jncsc sHc "ds prepared W puI nob " Nv
union with man who was repugnant to her. Tho
Judge, unhappily, had no alternative: he was bound
by his Office and his oath TO administer the lIndO0
laws and to pass order that she should Join her
husband within {. month. failing which she would be
liable TO six months imprisonment. II might be
imagined that such case would command the sym
pathy OF all persons. Of whatever race or religion,
but it IL notorious that among the IIindoos them
selves no vo.ce has been raised In favor Of this
muchnjured woman Tho Anglo-lndans, however,
felt most strongly on the subject: numerous articles
have boon published in the English newspapers
printed In India and it Is proposed TO raise fund for
the further defence Of iiulmha Even those lindOOs
call loudly for representative Institutions,
and plead most earnestly for the institution OF native
magistrates and Justices have no word 10 say In her
defence, nor anything TO urge against the cruel law
and custom which permits so great wrong.
IL may be asked What the conditions which
render so great outrage human liberty possible
The il not far to seek. The llndoo marriage
law Is based, presumed TO be based upon their
sacred books which have been received and acted
upon by many millions Of people for thirty centuries.
Tho IIindoO religion inculcates that every IIindoo
girl must be married. For father to have an UNI
married daughter in his house IL not only 10 become
an outcast and forfeit every social position but
even worse: it is regarded az religious crime, In
volving not merely degradation In this world, but
eternal punishment in that TO come. Every llindoO
girl therefore, must be married Her consent Is never
asked She Is united when child TO n fit and
proper person, should such one DO Obtanablc,
hut married she must be 10 one, and often, as
Is tho case with Rukmibhai to person whose con-
sent purchased for small sum The life OF such
a wife may he imagined: 1t Is frequently one OF ter
ribe hardship, without even the consolation OF hope,
Tor widowhOOd in India means loss Of all social posi-
ton depriv alton OF civil rights. and IN too many
cases the lowest degradation that can bcfall woman